Pinterest

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Your power is in the present. This is one of the reasons meditation is such a powerful and life-changing practice, because it trains the mind to be in the "now" which is where your true power lies. Law of attraction works "now" not yesterday and not tomorrow. You can certainly manifest tomorrow what you focus on today - but it is where your thoughts are directed today, right now, that determine what you are in the process of creating.

If you ever want the universal laws to work in your favor, the one key concept you have to grasp and start working with actively is on being aware and fully present. That is hard to do in a world full of distractions, stress, and other obligations. It's difficult, but not impossible. One great way to do this is to call yourself to attention several times per day. Stop what you are doing and really focus on where you are, your breathing, your surroundings, how you feel, and where your thoughts are going. Bring yourself to center and stay there for several seconds - like freezing time for just a moment. When you make this a regular habit you will begin to notice how much of your life actually passes you by each day without a second thought.

This exercise can help you learn to establish mindfulness, and it can also help you to feel empowered and inspired. Full and present awareness relieves stress and anxiety, calms the mind and body, and helps you to be more conscious of where your thought energy is going. If you have trouble calling yourself to attention - set alarms to go off a few times per day. When it goes off stop and be fully present for a full minute or two before resuming your normal activity. It will truly be an eye opening (and mind opening) experience.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

So I've had a bit of a hiatus from the blog due to other obligations the past couple of weeks. This time of year I have a lot of family members with birthdays, then there's the fall cleaning and all sorts of things going on in addition to work.

These rituals kind of got me to thinking about the larger things to embrace and celebrate. Cleaning for example - most of us tend to dread the heavy cleaning, decluttering etc. that comes once or twice a year. This year, I decided to embrace it as an opportunity to make room for more abundance to flow into my life by shedding what I no longer need.

I made careful efforts to reuse/repurpose things that I could and to give away things to others that they could use that I no longer really, actually needed. Many of us hang onto things we don't truly need out of fear. We worry that "someday" there may be a use for that. What is actually happening is we fear letting go of what we know and what is familiar to us. So the next time you find it difficult to de-clutter and rearrange your life, ask yourself if that is pointing to larger fears you may need to acknowledge and address. What we resist persists.

Embrace those less than fun tasks from a positive attitude of gratitude and openness to new opportunities and you'll find you actually enjoy the process. At least, it will become less of a chore.

As for Birthdays, this year was a big one for my mom. She turned 60 and she was struggling with that number for awhile. More I think it was she was facing some of her own inner fears - like had she truly accomplished all she hoped to by this time and how will she fully embrace and use the years she has left. She has had a recent injury that has been the cause of lack of mobility in a shoulder and that too I think has triggered some worries - like what might happen in the future if she loses more mobility etc.

I think many times we struggle with birthdays because it causes us to reflect on similar issues - we direct our energies more at those times to living in the past or worry about the future instead of fully being in the present moment. This year I am turning 39 and I am facing the whole "mid-life" issue where I find myself doing a lot of life review and also worrying about the future. It's universal for all of us I think :) we may face different fears, but they all share the traits of taking our focus from the "now" which is the only place where our true power lies. This year I am working to be conscious of it and to let go of those types of thoughts and to embrace the fact that my life right now is pretty darn nice and I am sure there are many more blessings to come if I stay within that place.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Today's image is a little reminder of the law of Divine Unity or Oneness. This law states that you are one with the universe and all that lies within it. Looking for answers? Rather than seek it - allow it come to you. Use meditation or guided hypnosis to distance yourself from the mundane thoughts/routines of daily life and connect to your higher self. It takes discipline and practice, but results in the ability to easily attain answers in your life.

When you recognize your unity with "All" that is - it becomes possible to "know" answers to the questions in life without struggle. You can easily connect to the source of all knowledge and allow that inspired energy and ideas to flow through to you. The secret to doing this is learning to quite the chatter of the mundane mind - so that the higher mind has room to enter.

When we think of elite athletes - we tend to think of those who train for the Olympics or play professional sports etc. These people train and work hard so that they make their sport seem easy or virtually effortless at times. The recognize the benefits of taking charge of their own bodies. With universal law of attraction (and the other laws) we are challenged to become elite athletes of the mind. Training our mind/thoughts so that we are more in control of where our energy flows and ultimately what we manifest.

Energy is always manifesting. If you don't like what is being created in your life at present, it may be time to engage in exercising and building the mind so that your destiny is more in your own hands. Only you can do this for yourself - no one can give you easy answers, you still have to do the work. Just like reading a diet book won't make you thin - reading my blog and other publications on "Law of Attraction" etc. won't make your life better unless you take action.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

This quote reminds us that endings always lead to new beginnings. As one phase of your life comes to its conclusion, the next adventure awaits.

Remember a time where you were disappointed when something did not turn out as you had envisioned. A first break up might be a good example. At that moment, when you were hurting, it likely felt like "the end of the world". As time passed however and you found a new love, you realized that had you remained where you were, your new destiny could not have been realized.

All of us face endings and disappointments in life. There are times where things are not going to go as you had hoped, but that does not mean all is lost. This is where your faith comes in. This is where trust in your higher plan takes over and instead of focusing on a sense of loss it becomes even more important to look for the hidden opportunities and blessings.

What seems hopeless now is rarely final or absolute - transformation and change are everywhere and happening constantly, whether you see it or appreciate it or not. This falls under the The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy and the Law of Rhythm. Energy is in constant motion and all energy eventually manifests (transmutation) and all energy vibrates and moves according to its own rhythm.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Growing up I always remember hearing how people, women especially, should pride themselves on putting everyone and everything ahead of themselves. Women like my grandmother took these roles seriously. Her home was always immaculate - too much so, it often felt more like a museum than a home. She worked her entire life as a nurse and I remember her very fondly and admired her sense of duty and responsibility, how disciplined she always was. The other thing I remember is a woman who was very rigid and always on a schedule, who didn't really take time to have fun. She sincerely believed that "idle hands" were a sin and so she was always working, always doing and I don't remember much of anything she ever did for herself - except listen to baseball games and play solitaire. I don't remember fun outings to speak of, or any spontanaeity. I always felt if she had considered herself among her top priorities, that she would have been a true "superwoman". For her, it was always keeping up the image - and in the process I often felt she became a little lost.

I have seen this kind of social shaping a lot over the years. Women who put themselves under so much pressure to be perfect in their career, their home, with their kids, their appearance. At the end of the day what's left? Is there ever time for spontaneous joy? To pursue the meaning of life or look deeper for one's own passions?

Often we are taught that total self-sacrifice is what it means to be selfless - but I would argue that it should be the other way around. We cannot give to others what we don't have within ourselves to give. If we spend our days on empty because we've given all away and received nothing in return - how is that beneficial? On the other hand, when you take time for yourself and you feel fulfilled, it becomes second nature and much easier to give of yourself to others. When you allow your own light to shine and give yourself permission to live your truth, in that process itself you give others around you permission to do the same.

It is not selfish to make yourself a priority when you approach it from the right mindset. There is a difference between being self-focused and self-centered. Self-centered people are insecure people who want to be the center of everyone's attention at all costs. They often play the martyr to garner sympathy and other things of this nature. Self-focused people are those who work on empowering and strengthening themselves so that they might better inspire and serve those around them.

Take time to reflect on what is "selfish" and see if what you've been taught has robbed you of the joy of being self-focused. What we put forth we attract - if we constantly are at the end of our patience, feeling tired, drained, pressured, etc. - that is what we will draw more of. If, on the other hand, we take time each day to find our center, to give back to ourselves we feel more at peace, more secure in our own identity. The result is people and circumstances that come into our circle that mirror these qualities back to us. We begin to find more independent and like-minded people as well as circumstances that are more closely aligned to our true desires/needs.

Many people think of the subject "Frugal Living" and they think - doing without, sacrifice, scrimping by, not having nice things etc. This is a poverty mindset - a dis-empowered way of thinking that leads to more of the same. Remember where thoughts/beliefs go so does our energy.

I challenged people to look at frugality another way. View it as a way to embrace simple living, organization, efficiency and empowerment. Rather than focusing on what you don't have - you start to focus on loving and making the most of what you DO have. Frugality from an empowered mindset becomes something to strive for and enjoy. It is not miserly or clinging to what one has out of fear - but embracing simplicity. Misers are those who fear and cling desperately to a false since of control. Those who practice simple abundance embrace the simplicity and don't feel that sense of impending doom or financial ruin. They trust in their resourcefulness and creative thinking.

Those who embrace simple living give up the need for struggle, competition, and the temptation to live beyond their means. They can let go of struggle with debt and simply enjoy being comfortable and secure in what they've attained. Those who live simply actually become more generous, because they free up resources and time that they can then extend to others.

Look at the ways your attitude can empower or rob you in life and make necessary adjustments. It's often a simple matter of finding and keeping a new perspective. Rather than focus on not making enough money for example - think of some $50 ideas. An extra fifty bucks is not a difficult goal to reach. Perhaps you have a service or good you can offer, maybe you have extra things you can sell on consignment or at a yard sale. Once you reach that first extra $50 it will inspire you to brainstorm and look for other ways to reach that goal again - because it feels good. It gives you a sense of accomplishment which leads to inspired action which leads to abundance and prosperity.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The past few months have given me a great deal to reflect on when it comes to change, especially the fully unexpected events that throw you into change like a whirlwind. In challenging times, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture and like the last quote I posted, we have to keep moving forward even when we can't see the whole staircase.

A few months ago, I had a series of upheavals. My son was in a school bus crash and ended up with a severely broken leg, having 2 surgeries and spending his entire summer, including his 13th birthday in a cast. We went from a full leg cast and wheelchair, to a regular cast, to now a walking cast. During all of this my youngest child finally potty trained as we worked on intense physical therapy with his brother. My husband lost his job because he missed too much work while trying to help in the care of the boys. It was very heartbreaking initially and stressful. Practicing the universal laws does not make us immune to struggles in life, it just helps us cope with them better.

I realize that everyone in life has periods of struggle. Now I am watching my mothers health decline and for the first time both her and my father are getting old in my eyes. I am facing the probability of caring for both of them in the coming years. My husbands parents are both older than mine, and his mother is also chronically ill. These changes we can prepare for a bit I suppose, but they are still difficult transitions. We realize that in life, all people face changes that are difficult. Not every change is easy, in fact most aren't and that is why we spend a lot of time avoiding them. The downside to that of course is a lack of growth. Especially if we never risk failure or doing something that makes us feel truly alive.

All of these incidents the past few months, while challenging, have also reinforced my belief in the laws of the universe. I am seeing the natural cycles of life, the fact that things change regardless of our resistance to it and that life on this plane can be fragile at any age. I have watched my son grow up, seen his courage develop, and watched him find a love and awe for life again that has been truly amazing.

In the past couple of weeks, I have also seen a friend of mine who is only in her late 30's almost die from smoking and obesity. Everyone tiptoes around these subjects with people, but the doctor in the ER finally told her bluntly - keep doing what you are doing and you will die, leaving your two young boys motherless. It worked - her fear was finally the catalyst to helping her make major changes. I know now she values her health and wellness and will do what she can to ensure she lives her best life possible, if not for herself, then for her kids. It can become easy to stay stuck in our habits - even ones we know are hurting us. Change is hard - but I've learned that if we wait too long, until we "must change or else" - it is much harder.

So, I guess the point of today's post is to acknowledge change is inevitable and yes - it is hard. It's also the one thing in life that is guaranteed, and you can flow with it and live freely or resist it and struggle - but the changes are still going to happen. So, if you want to improve the quality of your life, jump in the deep end, embrace change and make it your friend instead of your enemy.

Looking back over the past six months, I realize I have also grown. I have truly focused on wellness for not only my family, but now for myself as well. I am working towards my goals, setting a better example by working hard but also striking a better balance between work, personal, and family time. I am making the things that matter a priority. For example, we are having dinner at the table every night again. We had let our busy lives take over previously and would grab a quick bite or eat in front of TV etc. Now, we enjoy a home cooked meal each night at the dining room table. It is amazing how that small act allows us to really connect in new ways. We killed an old bad habit, made a new one and it's lead to positive changes. Every day you can do something that leads to positive change also - and don't worry about resisting the unexpected changes, because you can't stop them anyway. Comfort zones serve no one and they don't allow us to avoid pain, only prolong suffering.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

So, I haven't posted in just over a week now. I have been dealing with a virus/sinus infection - or shall I say it's been dealing with me. One unfortunate thing will sickness is that it doesn't seem to ask us when the most convenient time is to show up lol - it just sort of happens.

So what does this have to do with Universal Law you may be asking? Not a lot honestly ;), but I did do some reflecting while healing. One way I do healing is through meditation and visualizing healing occurring within the body. This has multiple benefits. First of all, meditation relaxes the body which allows the natural healing processes to kick in. Secondly, it helps you focus your mind not to "oh my face hurts woe is me", but to "thank you for my healing" and to think of other blessings - such as the blessing of having some down time to hang out with my family and watch some movies. When my mind is not full of chaos and trying to figure out which of my projects to tackle next while taking care of the kids, house, etc. It makes me take time to focus on myself. It also allows other inspirations to flow through to me that couldn't get through all the noise of the mind before.

When you get that next cold or virus or whatever that goes around, take some time to bless the experiences of down time and allow yourself to rest and not feel guilty for taking some time for yourself. Everything will be there in a day or two when you get back.

For the physical element of it I highly recommend the herb Astragalus for boosting your immune system. It is used in conjunction with chemotherapy in Japan to help cancer patients bounce back. It is amazing stuff and you can find it inexpensively online. I also use Grapefruit Seed Extract as a natural anti-biotic, anti-viral without side effects. My results - big sinus infection gone in 2 days. Much better than the 7 - 10 it usually takes. Rest, proper diet, supplements and embracing the situation are all key.

What we resist persists - its' another law that ties in with "where thoughts go energy flows" ... It's natural to "fight" an illness, which in turn often keeps us fueling and feeding energy to the very thing we are trying to be free from. Consider that next time you feel illness coming on and then allow it to do its thing while giving your body what it needs. You'll find you recover faster and feel even more energetic.

If you are curious about the herbs I used, you can learn more about the herb Astragalus at this website: http://www.whatisastragulus.com I highly recommend taking it during the fall/winter months to keep your immunity boosted and it provides a subtle energizing effect as well.

The Daily Power Words Revisited

The power words were a free column I wrote and published years ago on YahooGroups. At the time, universal laws had not be made popular yet, however my little self-discovery journal exercises were well-received. I believe that on a subconscious level, we are all aware of the laws that govern the universe and existence, even if we don't always perceive them consciously.

The power word I am sharing below is the law of attraction in a nutshell and what you can do to be aware of how it is working in your life.

Energy

There is a Universal Law that states "Where thoughts go energy flows". We are
often bombarded with negativity, and we tend to engage in negative thought
patterns more often than we realize. Many are unaware of the power of the mind.
Our ability to mold and shape our destiny lies within the power of our thoughts.
Does this mean directing our thoughts will make our lives simple all the time and
that nothing "bad" will ever happen? Of course not. Life will always have its little
pitfalls, but through controlling and directing the energy we put out, we make our
lives easier. With this effort, our minds become clearer enabling us to remain
focused on that which truly matters.
Remember also, that like attracts like. If your thoughts are mostly
negative, most of what you receive and perceive will be negative as
well.

Today's Exercise:

Today be mindful of your thoughts. Seemingly random thoughts can hold a lot of
power. Make an effort to direct your thoughts in a positive manner in order to
restore balance. At the end of the day note anything you learned through being
more observant of your thoughts. What were the proportions of negative to
positive? How often did you catch yourself in negative self-talk etc.? What
you observe today may surprise you!

If you would like to read more about the Daily Power Words and how to use them for personal growth and empowerment be sure to also visit http://www.dailypowerwords.net

Thursday, August 16, 2012

I love this quote because it is a reminder that happiness and joy is a choice and not an attainment. When we make happiness or joy dependent on some distant goal, we never find our bliss, because it remains perpetually in the future.

The Law of Attraction states we must be what we hope to attract. It works in the present. If you want to attract more opportunities that make you joyful, focus on being happy "now". What we feel and think now is what creates our tomorrow's. If you spend your life focused on the future or living in the past, you are not making use of the present and therefore are not manifesting effectively.

Focus on joy now. Happiness is the one universal thing we all seek. Too often we put our expectations on others, or on things outside of ourselves to "provide" or "bring" happiness.

Have you ever said to yourself "If only I had _________, I'd be happy" or "I'd be happy IF _______" well, that may be precisely why those things (and happiness) never showed up, because you put a condition on them that was dependent on some future event. We tend to focus on joy all wrong - we need to be fulfilled to find the circumstances and people that also fulfill and uplift us.

Be happy, choose it - and the things and circumstances and people that will help uplift you and keep you in that higher vibrational state will follow.

Remember that "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song :) I love that song, no matter what happens there is always something to be thankful for and happy about. Even in our darkest hours, when we seek we can find something that has blessed us.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Power Words

For many years, I wrote a free daily column "Daily Power Words". Each word is used to illuminate a particular spiritual or personal growth lesson. That words "power" is used for inspiration and to encourage introspection and growth via journaling.

I am going to share one for you today on Focus, because I think it illuminates the way we humans tend to approach things and how it sabotages our ability to truly manifest a rich and meaningful life.
If you would like to view 40 of the Daily Power Words and read more about how to use journals and power words to change and empower your life I encourage you to visit that website as well at www.dailypowerwords.net

Focus

Focus is what gets us from the drawing table to the end results; it's the combining
of all parts into the whole: vision, knowledge, and decisive action. For example, when we are physically ill, the first thing we usually do is reach for
the medicine cabinet. This effectively treats the symptom, but how often do we
seek the underlying cause and work to correct that as well? A headache may be
easily treated and dismissed, but notice how they tend to recur?

When we focus
on finding the underlying cause to our discomfort, such as diet, stress, or
emotional trauma, we can eliminate the problem at its source and prevent it
from recurring. So it is with all aspects of our lives. When we are feeling a lack of
harmony, or off balance, we must address the whole situation, not just the
symptoms.

Focus is the process of directing our energies, empowering ourselves to feel
whole, connected to our Spirit, at peace with ourselves. It's odd to me how when
we speak of focus and concentration we tend to view it as narrow sight, looking
only at what is right in front of the eyes. Healing focus is broad, not narrow.
Focus allows us to heal all areas simultaneously.

Today's Exercise:

Bring focus to an area of your life that is bringing you "dis-ease". This can be
anything that tends to trouble you on a recurring basis and doesn't necessarily have to be physical. Take note of what you
have been doing to correct this. Expand and look deeper into the situation, what
else ties into it? Have you focused on all aspects of the situation? Broaden your
focus and record the experience with action plans of what you can do on all
levels to help correct it.

Monday, August 6, 2012

I love this quote because it sums up beautifully one of the primary components of law of attraction. We must be what we want to attract. Happiness is not a destination, but a choice. When you choose to find peace and joy, more of the things that give you peace and joy will make their way into your life. The opposite is also true and becomes very apparent when we are stressed, angry, or otherwise upset.

Many of us give our power away. We believe on some level that life is a series of events that just happens and we have no influence over it whatsoever. That mindset can lead to self-sabotage. For example, have you ever woke up late only to panic and exclaim "I'm going to be late!" Feelings of powerlessness set in and suddenly you are anxious. As you stumble around, rushed, confused and full of anxiety, thoughts of the boss being angry or losing a chance at promotion start flooding your thoughts. Your anxiety level heightens and you are feeling these fears with great fervor.

As you run around in a panic, nothing goes smoothly. You lose your keys, struggle to get out of the door and the whole time you are feeling increasingly pressured, tense and anxious. You drive off only to realize you forgot something important and on your way, you are caught by every single traffic light. For no good reason, every slow driver in the free world manages to be in front of you. Your anxiety heightens even more and even more things begin to go awry. Why? Because you woke up in a panic and felt it with so much passion, that you continued to attract situations that fed that panic.

However, had you woke up late, but remained calm - you likely would have discovered that everything you needed was where it belonged, you didn't carelessly forget your items because you weren't distracted by feeling panicky and rushed. As you relaxed, things would once again flow smoothly and instead of being a half an hour late, running through the door already stressed and frazzled, you may find you walk in the door only a couple of minutes late (if at all), prepared with everything you need, and that no one really notices and you can go on about your day as normal.

If you resonated with the above scenario ;) and many of us have, chances are you are allowing your feelings to dictate your state of mind rather than consciously choosing where to place your thoughts and energy.

This quote is a reminder to condition your circumstances - rather than letting your circumstances control you. The one thing you always have the power to control is your mind. Condition your thoughts and your world will be transformed. This is the main focus of the Law of Attraction and also the Law of Vibration that states what you put forth energy wise is returned to you.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Vision boards can serve as great reminders to stay focused on our goals and dreams. There are a variety of ways you can create a vision board, but the most important things are that it should be in a place where you see it regularly, and it should reflect a few of your highest goals.

Avoid the temptation to put 100 goals on a vision board. You may have 100 goals and that's great, but when a vision board gets cluttered with "too much" going on - it can take away from the process. You will scatter your energy and not be as effective as if you have only a few things (no more than 5 max) that you are working on. When your goals are placed in manageable numbers, the power to manifest those goals will go a lot further.

Your vision board should be organized. Collage is a nice artform, but even collages tend to have rhyme or reason to them. When your thoughts are organized, your energy is more focused and you can better direct it to the goal(s) at hand. Prioritize, place the goals you are working on that are more immediate first and ones that may take a bit more time or steps further down the line.

Your vision board should be something you enjoy adding to and it should be something easy to change and manipulate. Mine is a giant corkboard that hangs in the office room. I have some motivational quotes on there to help keep me inspired, and my more immediate goals in the center where we tend to naturally focus more. On the perimeter are my more distant goals.

Another idea for a convenient way to do a vision board is Pinterest! :) It is a virtual pinboard where you can pin everything under the sun - from favorite recipes, to craft ideas, and inspirations. You can also put a vision board on there, pinning ideas from various places you visit on the web. I love pinterest. It has brought a lot of new ideas and creativity into my life and I hope it will do the same for you!

More Vision Board Ideas

Draw your ideas out on paper - either literally, or in a mindmap. Mind mapping can be a great way to narrow down a goal also. I wrote about it in a previous post. You can do a mindmap, scan it or print it and put it up with a picture or two on your vision board to keep you motivated.

Instead of using magazine pics etc. or other "distant" visuals - take a day and go out with your camera. Photograph some things for your vision board, perhaps a house that looks like the one you want to build or buy, maybe a garden you would like to build etc. This makes you an active participant and enhances the energy behind your board.

How to Use Your Vision Board

It won't be effective to just look at it. In order to make a vision board work for you, you have to spend several minutes daily focusing on your board. Really look at it and focus your thoughts only on the goals you want to reach. As you focus a few moments on each goal, allow yourself to experience the feelings of already having it. Be grateful that it is yours and on its way to you. Ask your higher self /Spirit for guidance on the steps you can take to facilitate reaching that goal. If sudden ideas or inspirations hit you (while looking at your board or at other times) write them down right away so you don't forget!

Follow up! You must follow up on your inspirations and ideas with action. When the right ideas appear you will naturally have or draw to you what you need to enact them. Keep an open mind and heart and know that what you focus on intently and with purpose will manifest in your life.

Monday, July 23, 2012

I hope you enjoy the freshened up new look of the blog as much as I do. Sometimes in life, we all need a change of scenery to inspire us and help keep us motivated.

I really enjoy posting to the universal laws blog and I hope that you find it a place of serenity and inspiration. So with that in mind, I decided to make some changes and give the blog a "softer" look and feel.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

This is a hub I want to share today because it shows different journaling exercises that can help you on your quest to make Law of Attraction work in your life. Remember, LOA requires a few things to be effective - conscious effort, clarity of intent, and the ability to look beneath the surface to the deeper meanings and purpose behind your life events.

The journal exercises in this hub are designed to do just that - help you open up to all of these things and see with clarity not only your true desires, but your plans and progress at a glance. This is a great habit that will keep you motivated and moving towards your ultimate attainments.

Journaling also is an action that puts your energy out to the universe in concise, concentrated ways to help you begin to manifest what you truly want - consciously.

Enjoy the journal exercises and feel free to vote, comment and discuss via the comments section of the hub. I thrive on your feedback and it helps me to know what to discuss and publish next :) so feel free to participate here or there via comments anytime I post :)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

One of my problems with mainstream ideas and lessons with Law of Attraction is that they often tend to focus on a force outside of ourselves - In many faiths people pray for what they want, with movies like "The Secret" people are told that the universe is like a Genie that grants wishes. While I loved the Secret and thought it was a great primer, there were some key concepts that I feel were left out. Of course it is difficult to condense Law of Attraction fully into one book or a 90 minute movie so I definitely give them props for breaking down a complex subject admirably.

One key area I think that people miss though is accountability. We tend to push things off onto others, onto God, the Devil, "evil", etc. Most of us are not taught to look deep within ourselves, to embrace all aspects of our nature. We spend much of our time dodging what we deem bad or unacceptable and trying to line up with ideals. "I don't know what got into me" or "the Devil made me do it" - have you ever heard those phrases? Often people thank God for the good in their lives. It's a nice gesture, but God lives and breathes through you, so when you find strength it is important to recognize your own role in that process. God may be an inspiration to you, but you are the one who went above and beyond. In life we always tend to pass the buck ;) good or bad, right or wrong, we struggle to "own ourselves"

What happens in the process of all this is that we don't quiet down, we are never still long enough to maintain a deep connection to our source - which whether you call it God or the Universe etc. - is the heart of everything, of all creation. It lies within you and it is all around you. Everything that exists comes from the same place. You are not some detached, pitiful small creature - the greatness of all that is lives and breathes in every cell of your body. I say all the time when viewing yourself, stop seeing a tiny drop in a vast ocean - instead see that the ocean exists in the drop. When you can truly feel that connectedness and let it in, your ability to manifest the life of your dreams will take off.

So how do we tap into that? Silence, Stillness, Meditation...

In stillness we learn to to avoid the pitfalls of extreme emotions. We become witnesses to our feelings and thoughts and as the observer, we are better able to detach and make choices from a place of wisdom. In a place of silent meditation it is like the eye of the storm - as we sit calmly in this state, nothing in the chaotic outer realms can touch us. When we have a dark thought we can allow it float by and not engage the thought by trying to fight it or avoid it - simply let it float by and then it gains no traction and has no power.

But what about positive thoughts then? If we just observe our positive thoughts are their powers removed? No. Why? Because when we detach we allow the "clutter" to move past us, so that our strongest, healthiest, most inspired ideas can flow to us during our regular activities throughout the day. We can then take action on the best ones and allow the others to float on by.

The best way to learn to manage your thoughts, desires, and emotions is through becoming the observer. Watch but do not attach. As your emotions and thoughts flow, do your best to acknowledge them without hanging onto them. One way to do this is to view yourself as a sieve where everything flows through. When our emotions and thoughts are flowing properly, we naturally align with the true calling of our spirit. We can then manifest away free from clutter, chaos, etc. and then we can bring into being our best life.

This perspective allows us to "aim higher". In the movie for example they showed a girl focusing intently on a necklace. Well, yes technically you can focus on material items and manifest a way for them to come to you - HOWEVER, the Universal Laws are about much more than that. They transcend the depths of our awareness and with proper focus and action, you can manifest a life that is truly joyful. Things don't bring joy ultimately, so if you are focused solely on "stuff" - aim higher. Joy is a state of awareness where you can be at peace no matter what is going on in the world around you. It is an inner state of grace that is attainable with practice. When you are in that place, the "stuff" of the universe that you truly desire will make its way to you without great strain or effort.

If you find you are focusing on the wrong things - you won't manifest them no matter how hard you try. Why? because they are not aligned with your true soul purpose. Instead of focusing on things outside yourself - go within. That is where the keys to the universe lie. I find that when I get too caught up in the mundane or too focused on the fleeting things - I remind myself to "look up" - not to some distant place, but to a higher vibrational place of energy.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Yesterday, I was writing a hub about Free writing and Mind Mapping and how they can be used to help writers become more expressive and better organized.

The basic premise of a freewrite is that you sit down and do nothing but type. You cannot self-edit as you write and you simply allow your ideas to flow freely. After an allotted time, you go through your free written material and cull it for things you can use. You then use those ideas and plug them into a mind map. For those unfamiliar, a mindmap starts with an overall concept or idea which is placed in the center of your page. From there you draw branches to subtopics, and from those to further subtopics etc. It helps you visually organize your thoughts quickly.

I got to thinking about these exercises today and how I have used them for both journaling as well as professional writing. These two practices, whether you are a writer or not, can be a great way to get yourself focused and organized. Those who are focused and organized know exactly what they want, and they have mapped out steps to help facilitate the reaching of those goals. Therefore, mind mapping and freewriting are excellent tools for working with the Law of Attraction

I have mindmapped business ideas before, story plans, websites, you name it. I love to mindmap because it helps me to clear the clutter of my mind and shift my focus. I can see where i could better spend my energy and other areas where I may be expending too much energy. I can clearly see patterns, wants, needs, and underlying issues. There is no better way to discover your fears (to help you manage them) than a mindmap or freewrite. You can also use them to find hidden talents and ideas - things you may not have been consciously fully aware of.

If you are feeling a little cloudy, uncertain of your direction or exactly what you are aiming for, sit down and write about it. Freewrite, just let everything flow from you. You may find you start your writing with not knowing what to say - so write about that :). The idea is to let ideas flow as though you were turning on a faucet. Do not stop to make corrections, edit, etc. as you write - just let the ideas out.

Once you have done this and the ideas are flowing, start a mind map. You may come up with new, inspired ideas that weren't able to get through before. Who knows what exciting places it may take you to.

Give it a try and see how it opens up your energy to better flow with the Universal Laws. Try keeping your journal exercises and particularly your mind maps and organized lists from mind maps in a special journal. This keeps your ideas all together neatly in one place where you can reflect on them and even go back for new inspiration.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Develop Positive Habits - Manifest Your True Desires

Many people live life passively as though it were a series of events that just happens in which they don't truly have any real control. The result is, we tend to become complacent and just accept mediocrity, rather than push for greatness.

The Law of Attraction works best when we facilitate it by developing and engaging in regular habits.

Lets say your ultimate goal is to make money doing what you love. Each day you talk about it, you visualize it, but are you developing daily habits of working towards your goals? Thinking, visualizing, and talking are not enough.

To manifest a lofty goal, break it down into daily bits and pieces. Develop daily habits that move you towards your ultimate attainment. Keep track of your progress - allow this to continue to motivate you.

Work on honing your craft each day. I'll use my writing for an example. If I want to continue to manifest my dreams of being a successful writer, every day I need to write something and I do. I write for my Tarot site, this blog, or other projects I am working on. This enforces that I am indeed already a writer. I am doing it, not just imagining it etc.

I have a Mantra: "My creativity heals myself and others. I deserve to live an abundant, creative life". I focus on this mantra each day - not just saying it or thinking it, but taking time to deeply feel it on every level of my being. Meditating on positive statements, letting it really sink in, is a good example of a positive habit that will keep you manifesting your larger goals.

In short, I verify to the universe every day that this is the reality I am creating and living by making it a part of my present reality. The universe works now - and what we do now shapes our future, so we have to be or act as if we are already what we hope to be, to create that reality. Daily habits reinforce and motivate.

Choose a loftier goal you have and then think of a couple of daily habits that you can turn into a routine that help keep you moving in the right direction. Once those habits are in play, you'll find you naturally branch out and want to do more and the means for you to do so begin to appear.

Focus on what you want - drop thoughts of how it will happen, when it will happen etc. Pour everything you've got into developing strong habits that encourage your dream and make them a part of who you are and you'll see your life start to transform.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Universal laws state that we must be willing to take a chance on change, even when that change may go against social norms or what we have been previously programmed to believe. When we seek change and truly embrace it with all our heart and soul, the universe works quickly to manifest those dreams. You may notice it in the form of "serendipity" - little happy surprises that come just when you need them or affirm you made the right choice etc. When those signs occur you can breathe easy that you are working in accordance with the universal laws.

Other times we get too caught up in what we "think" we want or become too dependent on our vision of how we think things will go. We burst forth with guns blazing, but nothing seems to gel right. Things seem to fall apart and then we start to question the laws - instead of ourselves. We begin to say "this doesn't work" etc. without taking time to step back and look at the situation with an openness and receptivity of spirit. Ego gets hung up on simple gratifications and wanting to "win" a goal. Spirit or our higher selves, relaxes and allows our goals and dreams to manifest. We are gently nudged and although we are encouraged to pursue our dreams with a sense of urgency, it flows easily, things get done and come together as if by magic.

Are you Embracing or Chasing?

Do you know the difference? If you are chasing a goal like you have to accomplish it to "prove something" or you are doing it for the thrill of a victory, or to push your own agenda, you may find that manifesting is more difficult. Sure your putting your energy into something, but you may not be aligning with your higher power, your source and approaching it from a higher vibrational place. Ego and spirit are two very different things.

That being said, ego isn't "bad" as it is so often depicted. Our personalities help shape what we are good at, what we are drawn to, who we best interact with etc. Personalities give us flavor and dimension. It's only when we become caught up in the ego that we falter. It is possible, and we should, embrace goals in ways that can gratify both the higher self and the ego.

For example, the ego when hearing us say "we should be healthy and eat right and exercise and focus on whole being wellness" - will quickly get bored. It's the part of you that loves that junk food and so it resists and says "eh, maybe later" ... or makes excuses, "Well I can't do that today because we are going out to eat tonight" etc. You know the excuses ;). However, when you make a loftier goal fun for the ego too - then you have cooperation and then the truly miraculous can take place.

I once resolved to do a 5k a day five days in a row for a month. Mon - Friday I would run and rest on weekends. I wanted to do this to clear my head, to build stamina and to push my limits. My normal ego response would be to resist - no way sister! that isn't any fun... BUT, the ego loves to compete, so I made it into a contest with myself. I focused on beating my own times, on pushing to go faster each day, or with more of an incline on the treadmill etc. What happened was truly inspiring. I spent my daily walk/run listening to meditative music while doing my workouts. My whole being was rejuvenated - my mind was clear, my body became leaner and healthier, I began to feel more confident. These achievements all gratified me on every level of my being. When I would start to get tired if I ran for a long part of it, I would tell myself "sweat is fat crying!" lol - silly, but it was gratifying to the old ego and gave me incentive to keep pushing. Spiritually I felt "lighter" and more connected and emotionally/mentally I was clear as a bell. All parts were working as a cohesive unit - it wasn't the typical "us vs them" type battle that is so often depicted between our ego and our higher self. Cooperation is how to get things done!

So moral to the very long story - is follow your heart, pursue your goals that are inspired by a higher calling or purpose, and do so in a way that gratifies you on every level of your being...When you find that harmony, all things will pull together and manifest in ways you will not believe.

Pursue your dreams, take chances, accept risk - but don't be reckless - LISTEN to your inner voice and ALLOW your dreams to manifest. Embrace everything you pursue as a "whole being" aspiration and you'll be a master at manifesting in no time!

Friday, July 6, 2012

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;The Tarot is a great tool for meditation and reflection. Many of its lessons directly reflect those of the Universal Laws. Some time ago I created the video here - it features all of the cards of the Major Arcana and the life lessons they represent.

It is a meditative movie designed to trigger reflection and relaxation. I hope you will enjoy it - even if you are not a user or fan of Tarot - this video will still have valuable lessons for you I promise!

Enjoy, share it, and please feel free to comment below and let me know your thoughts. Did you get anything from it? What stood out most to you?

Today's quote I chose because it so beautifully illustrates the Universal Law of Divine Timing. When we consider our dreams, often we feel impatient - when things don't happen according to our sense of time we begin to resist the natural flow of events. We start to distrust the process, ourselves, and ultimately we begin to allow thoughts of failure to creep in.

It is important to work hard towards our goals, to visualize and see ourselves as what we want to be, but at the same time, we must realize that the Universe unfolds according to schedule. Manifesting is not a process of strong arming our will - but a process of allowing and trust. We do our part and put our faith in the Universe to deliver at the appropriate time.

Impatience blinds us from truth and leads us astray. Pour your energy into the goals that you are passionate about - but do so with a faith that can embrace and enjoy the journey itself because that's where true happiness lies.

Today's quote comes from an excellent book by Dan Millman "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior". This book is filled with wisdom and valuable lessons on life and how to live joyfully, now - with full awareness. He speaks in this book not only of the lessons of divine timing, but also of our connection with Universal knowledge on a cell level. Everything you have ever wanted or needed to know is actually imprinted on the very cells of your being! (law of divine oneness or unity)

If you haven't read it I highly recommend picking up a copy!

Have a blessed day and do feel free to comment or share the lovely inspirational graphics on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter etc.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Bumble bees by design are kind of akward and clumsy, their shape, size, and weight should technically make them unable to fly, yet away they buzz not knowing that they aren't "made for flight"...

How many times in our lives are we told or led to believe we can't do certain things? Most of us can recall times in our lives when others laughed at our dreams or told us "be practical" or "be more realistic" etc. The result? those voiced ruled over our own inner voice and we settled for less than we were capable of.

Bumble bee tells us not to settle. Do what we were designed to do, despite what common knowledge dictates. After all, at one time the majority believed the world to be flat and that the sun revolved around the earth ;)

Be true to yourself - today and always!

Best,
Christin

Please, pin and share any of the lovely "vision board" reminders I share so that others may find my blog. THANKS! :)

Monday, July 2, 2012

I love this quote because there is so much truth in it. What we plant today by our actions and attitudes, determines our ultimate course. Will we choose happiness and the actions or "seeds" that allow joy to grow? or will we choose to keep sowing seeds that take over like weeds and cause us to drown out our true bliss?

Often I talk about joy, happiness, peace being a choice and not a destination and this is true, but it is also true that the seeds we plant today grow into tomorrows manifestations. Therefore if you choose joy and authentic living today - tomorrow more blossoms of opportunity will emerge for you.

The opposite also applies, if you sew seeds of self-sabotage or choose to delay joy, what blossoms tomorrow will also lead to more of the same. Wise choices now lead to brighter tomorrows - and you can always make new choices and sew new seeds!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Sometimes we all need a reminder to get up and go for our dreams. When we work with the universal laws it's important to remember that the laws are always working - so no matter what, the energy you put forth is working for you - or against you.

Procrastination, lack of clear direction, self-sabotaging thoughts, fear, remaining stationary, perfectionism, these are all the enemies of opportunity. Divinely inspired action leads to abundant blessings. Be bold and fly forward into the sunrise - make the most of the opportunities waiting for you to discover them today. The more you do this, the more motivated and inspired you will become and then more doors will open for you.

Take action - move forward and let the rest unfold as it will. Remember when you drive at night you trust that the road ahead of you will unfold as it should, even though you can only see so many feet in front of you. When we embrace the sunrise, a new life and we take action, we put faith in the road - that it will be there to greet us as we continue to move forward.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Reasons We Lack Motivation

A lot of times it can be difficult to stay motivated to reach our goals and there are several reasons what that may be the case. Today's post explores some of these reasons and gives some suggestions on ways to get back in touch with what you truly want and to make goals more manageable.

*~*~*~*

First of all, if you find you chronically lack motivation it may be time to do a bit of soul searching. Is what you want truly what you want? A lot of us get caught up in what we "think" we should do or want, or what others have convinced us is the right goal.

I know many women for example who feel pressured to be a "supermom". They wear themselves out trying to do everything without truly considering what they actually want. The result is they feel worn down, tired, and unsure of themselves. They wrap themselves so completely around their roles that they lose sight of themselves.

This is just one example where busy doesn't necessarily mean not bored. Boredom leads to depression and avoiding our true wants and desires leads to lack of fulfillment (boredom) and it becomes a vicious circle until we can strike that balance between meeting the needs of those who depend on us, with meeting our own needs. You can't give to others when you, yourself are empty. Often we are taught that being selfless means to give until you can't give anymore. This is a backwards concept, because in reality, when an individual is fulfilled it overflows and pours out of him/her to others. When we try to give when we are already on empty, it leads to depression, resentment, and anxiety.

Action Plan

If this is the case in your life, resolve to spend some time with yourself. Even if it's half an hour of "my time" per day. Use this time to do some mind mapping. place your ultimate goal in the center of a page - whatever that may be whether it's to get in shape, start your own business, whatever goals centers around YOU and your needs. Around this start writing out ideas and thoughts, what would you do? what would your ideal situation feel like? What do you need to do to start working towards that loftier goal? What can you do right now? Explore all the angles branching out from the center with different ideas. After you have finished this over the course of a week or so, then start to organize the thoughts and ideas. This helps you to make plans and plans allow the universe to align with the nature of your thoughts/feelings and help you to manifest your goals.

Don't get so caught up in the daily grind you lose yourself. The universe cannot help you manifest your dreams if you are not fully connected with them in the present moment. Take time for yourself, make you a priority and start making plans and writing down your ideas - this solidifies your goals and allows the process of manifesting to begin.

Without "divinely inspired action" there can be no manifesting! It will not find you, or drop into your lap - you MUST take action and facilitate your goals and ideas.

Using Law of Attraction Successfully - Use These Techniques to Stay on Course

Awhile back I wrote a hub on HubPages I am going to revisit here today because I feel it works so well. I wrote it in an effort to create simple, easy to remember steps to allow you to be able to stop and assess if you are facilitating the Universal Laws in your life, or sabotaging your best intentions.

Have you ever used an acronym or letter of the alphabet to help commit something to memory? If so these 7 tricks will be great for you because they all start with the letter A. I found that was fitting, because A is the 1st letter, and these practices are all about recognizing and valuing yourself as important enough to put yourself first. Also, A being the number one, ties into the universal law of divine oneness - we are ALL one :) - so it was fitting.

So now you are wondering - what are these 7 A's and what do they mean?

The 7 A's are:

Awareness

Acceptance

Allowing

Appreciation

Adjustment

Application

Attainment

So what do they mean and how do they help you make the universal laws actually work in your life?

Monday, June 25, 2012

The most successful people are the ones who develop strong habits centered around the universal laws. They do something every day that moves them towards their goals. Remember, it isn't just about visualizing and waiting for something to fall in your lap.

The law of action states that you must facilitate by taking action on your ideas. ACT as though you are what you want to be - and you will become that very thing. The key here is actually taking action. That can be difficult to do without a plan.

For that reason, I recommend making a check list and following it.

Weight loss can be a great example - It's not something that is going to happen without action. You can't merely wish those extra pounds away. So an example of developing new habits might mean you create a checklist of daily tasks that will get you towards your goal.

For example make daily goals to exercise, drink plenty of water, etc. and check those goals off as you hit them. Save all of your daily goals and watch all those x's add up as you reach each milestone. At every 5 or 10 or 20 pound milestone reward yourself and look back at how far you've come. This gives you the motivation and the inspiration you need to keep going.

As you go along focus on what you have gained from the experience and be truly grateful for it. Gratitude is the attitude that manifests miracles in your life. If you truly, to your core, feel gratitude in every cell of your body - you will see miraculous transformations in your life.

Large goals are nice, but without detailed plans and a visible means to achieve them, they tend to go by the wayside.

Use your vision boards to keep you focused, use your checklists and journals to keep yourself motivated and then allow the Universe to guide the rest. Plan, facilitate, and take meaningful actions - those things all lead to success, not sitting around waiting.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Posted by
Christin Sander

Einstein was a truly brilliant man, well ahead of his time in many respects. Many wise quotes can be attributed to him, including the following. If you agree with the wisdom here please pin or otherwise share these words of wisdom with a friend.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Friday, May 25, 2012

Posted by
Christin Sander

What a great quote and so true! What we do is always more important and more remembered than anything else. Don't just say "thank you" or "I love you" - express it through an act of kindness. What we send out is returned to us.

I always remember words of kindness of course, but when someone does something kind, or pays you a compliment or gives you something you need without you having to ask it's truly remarkable. I have come to value very much recently the kindness of strangers.

When my son was taken off the bus after his accident, many people stopped to help and one lady in particular sat with my son and cared for him until the paramedics arrived. Many people drive on by or just look and stare - but many people that day stopped, got out of their cars and rushed to the aid of the injured on that bus. It was amazing and although this lady may never know who I am - my life is forever changed because she was there for my son at a moment where I could not be.

It's been a long couple of weeks. 11 days ago my son was coming home from a field trip on a bus full of 6th graders and as they were approaching a construction zone the bus driver slammed into the back of a Semi truck that was slowing down.

No one was killed or critically injured - and that is a blessing. My son and one other child were severely injured however and now it's all about moving forward with life and making this experience something to grow from rather than be overwhelmed by.

My 12 year old son had a compound fracture to his Tibia and a broken fibular bone as well. His injuries were so severe he was airlifted to a trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery the night of the crash and another smaller surgery 3 days later. His "good leg" was also badly injured, but not broken. (thankfully!) However, this made getting up and trying to walk on crutches extremely painful for him.

Watching him in agony was more than my heart could take at times, but it also shored up my determination to help make this a growing experience for our family. We began immediately by focusing on gratitude - thankful to be alive, thankful that he will walk again, thankful that everyone will eventually be ok, thankful for the people who stopped to assist, thankful for the amazing flight nurses that made it possible for me to put him on that helicopter while I drove 90 minutes away to reunite with my baby. SO many things to be grateful for - we continuously speak of the good that came from this.

When he works through the pain in his body, he envisions his bones and tissues working to heal, working to give him mobility again. When the sadness and anger rise up we acknowledge them for having a place and for being justifiable, but we choose to release that and continue to move forward in the spirit of gratitude and healing. We have learned to 'observe" our emotions rather than be overtaken by them. This has given him the calm and strength needed to adjust to life again. Even as he lay injured in that ER and waiting for the helicopter he showed amazing courage. I came into the room not knowing what to expect - the scene was chaotic and he looked at me and said "It's ok mom I just need to have a little surgery and I'll be fine". He was laying there with covers over his whole body, his teeth chattering from the pain/adrenaline. One little tear hung in the corner of his eyes and I could feel my heart breaking but I smiled at him and told him "I know you will baby". He put his oxygen mask back on and just looked at me and I used everything I had in me not to lose it.

Despite being in the most God awful place emotionally, somehow I was able to be calm and a strange serenity surrounded me and I just knew - it really was going to be alright. It was going to be hell, but it was also going to turn into something positive.

Each day in that hospital got a bit better. His surgeries went well - that's the hardest thing in the world to send a baby into surgery, but I just envisioned myself comforting him and repeating to myself "all is well - all is right with the world".

Every day he takes more steps. The first day he couldn't lift the full leg cast off the floor, 11 days later and he is able to get himself up and take 20 - 30 steps with his crutches before he gets too tired to continue. Each day has been 100% better than the day before it and we move forward knowing and being grateful for the fact that tomorrow will be better than today.

We have a long road ahead - months in a cast, physical therapy, and our whole lives have been turned upside down, but we know we will make it and Sean is my hero for his amazing resolve and willingness to not let this ruin his summer or his life.

Art Therapy

One of the first things he received was an art kit from his art teacher and a beautiful journal from his grandparents. He is using this to help him process his emotions, concerns, hopes, and fears. It's been a great tool for him and I am sure that it will be a great tool as he goes through counseling to heal as well.

One Day at a Time

We now value the "here and now" more than ever. We have fully realized that when you face a struggle if you focus on what you can do today - tomorrow will take care of itself. It can be hard to resist the natural urge to feel that your standing at the bottom of Everest looking up. Healing well and fast only happens when we focus on what we can do "now". Each day he pushes himself a little further, he opens up more to talk, and he refocuses his mind to stay positive. If he was dwelling on 5 months in a cast and therapy - it would deplete that initiative and cause him to spiral into the sadness and frustration. When we focus consciously on "now" and on "healing" there is no room for sabotaging thoughts to hold him back.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

This law states that your outer world reflects your inner world.

You will experience what you think about and what you experience and perceive in your outer world is a direct reflection of your inner world.

Have you ever noticed how if you are in a very cluttered room you begin to feel dragged down, stifled, or overwhelmed? Some feel an overwhelming need to straighten the area, to give it order. Others turn a blind eye to the mess almost instinctively. Perhaps making excuses like "I have no space, or I am so disorganized" Most of us battle this in our homes or work places at some point, some to a larger degree than others.

Hoarding for example has become a huge problem - and the people who engage in this are often using "stuff" to literally bury their emotions and problems, rather than bringing them out into the light of day to be dealt with. On the other end of the spectrum are people who have such strong OCD compulsions they never stop cleaning, the fear of disorder or germs etc take over. It's never enough and there is a need for more comfort through control etc.

Looking at these two scenarios we see how our outer world is a direct reflection of what is going on within our inner world. The person who is buried by clutter and feeling overwhelmed by it is almost always "burying" or feels overwhelmed by something they can't face emotionally.

The person who obsesses over germs and cleanliness is afraid of what is beyond his/her control. They continually clean and sanitize (which is actually harmful) in an effort to feel they are controlling the world around them. There is a sense of powerlessness and fear deep down that is buried by this activity.

What Influences You? Do You Even Know Anymore?

An example and what helped me to reshape both my inner and my outer world is to pay attention to what influences you. We turn the TV OFF. We do not watch the news, "reality tv" or get bombarded by advertisements constantly that play on fears and insecurities. This was the best thing our family ever did for our sanity and peace of mind. We watch family friendly movies and programs commercial free via Roku in extreme moderation. We read the news once or twice per week just to stay abreast of what is important in the world, but refuse to be "news junkies" or overtaken with all the negativity.

The media loves FEAR and so do businesses! What better way to make you buy tons of beauty potions, diet pills, expensive items you don't need etc. than to play on your fears. The images of women you see are fake. I work with Photoshop as a professional - trust me! Fear of not being "perfect" causes people to consume more - to buy the next gadget or potion in an attempt to live up to an illusion that will never be reality. I read once where Cindy Crawford said "I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford" In other words the makeup, expensive lighting and Photoshop are what create that image and she doesn't actually look like that in daily life. This is just one example. There are always images of "happy people" with expensive cars, jewelry etc. giving the illusion that if you get enough stuff you'll suddenly be happy. It's an illusion and it creates fear based thinking that robs people of joy rather than creates it.

Have you ever felt tired and just "edgy" after watching crime dramas or the news? Especially the news, because in a half hour you may be bombarded with hundreds of negative stories. This gives a skewed perception of reality. Suddenly the world looks far more dangerous than it actually is, people start to become so paranoid that we all live in isolation from each other. We don't feel connected like we used to. There is always a sense of impending doom and a need to be over vigilant against danger etc. This isn't to suggest throw caution to the wind of course, but I remember as a child going outside, riding bikes, playing in the woods etc. until it was dark and then I had to be home when the street lights came on. ALL of the neighborhood kids had that freedom. We had fun, we stayed fit and healthy, and had better social skills than young people today who are kept in a bubble and who rely on texts and tweets for their social skills.

Crime existed when we grew up too, but as a society we were not obsessed with it and bombarded by images of it constantly. We kept it in its proper perspective and were educated about how to protect ourselves and trust our instincts. Today we don't give our young people that opportunity, because we've become too obsessed with trying to protect them and smother them.

So back to the original point - what you focus on in your outer world is a direct reflection of what you need to address in your inner world. This law is hard to embrace, because it means looking at ourselves with genuine honesty and that often means having to admit we are wrong about how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Who really enjoys admitting they are wrong?

If you want to change your vibrations - you have to eliminate habits that keep you in negative mindsets. Reduce your exposure to media, advertising, sensationalism etc. Acknowledge that these things influence you more than you realize and then work to deprogram those ideas (this takes considerable time and effort but life is so much lighter and freer when you do this)

I have run the gamut in my life, from being sloppy to being very obsessive about my home. After addressing my inner world, I finally came to a place where I am a "happy medium". I don't feel compelled to be a super hero mom/woman anymore. I don't need to obsesses to be worthy of love. I do not feel buried or overwhelmed anymore and therefore I naturally became better organized. I was able to streamline my inner thinking and that allowed me to get control of my "stuff" - to keep what I truly need and want to use and to get rid of extra clutter. I know that my family will still love me if there is a dish left in the sink or laundry left to do. I know it doesn't mean I've failed as a mom etc. The image of a "super mom" is fake - and many women are running themselves into the ground trying to uphold that image to their own detriment. When you run yourself ragged, there is nothing left to give and that makes our families suffer.

Sometimes the inner world is harder to tackle - in that case start with your external world. If you are a pack rat, start letting go. It hurts, it's difficult at first - and that's because getting rid of stuff in your environment directly results in starting to let go of "stuff" in your inner world. It's all connected.

If you obsess the other way, start to give up some of that false sense of security and need for control. You will NEVER be able to control the outside world no matter how much you work yourself up ;). Your family will still love you even when the house looks lived in ;). The only thing we are in true control of at all times is our own thoughts/actions. Work to take some of your power back by focusing on what you can control, rather than obsessing over what you can't.

Those who get stuck in anger, resentment, and other self-sabotaging emotions and beliefs find that they tend to draw more chaos into their lives – and they likely don't realize they are doing it.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Exercise to Help Manifest Your Goals

Exercise is probably the single most vital thing the body needs and also tends to be the one thing we neglect the most in Western society. When it comes to using the Universal Laws however, you may want to ensure you are making time each day for physical exercise, preferably in the mornings when you first get up. Law of Attraction requires higher vibrations to work effectively. The best way to get body, mind, and spirit aligned and working for you in a higher vibrational frequency is exercise.

Why?

Exercise gives the body energy and helps clear the mind and reduce anxiety. When you exercise in the morning it helps set both body and mind up for strong performance throughout the day. It doesn't have to be vigorous, but it should become a habit just like taking a shower or brushing your teeth. Get up in the morning and go for a 20 minute brisk walk or hop on the treadmill while you watch your morning show. It gets the blood moving - energizing the mind and helping your spirits soar. It's harder to feel drained on days where you've engaged in morning exercise.

People who exercise early in the day tend to have lasting energy throughout the day. The momentum continues like a snowball effect and that higher energy level leads to more productivity, which of course leads to a deeper sense of satisfaction. All of these things raise your vibrations and help you line up with those goals you have that you want to manifest. Not only that, but you have the energy you need to reach more of your goals successfully and regularly. As you know this chain continues, when you see yourself accomplishing things the momentum to continue growing becomes very strong encouraging even more positive action.

Unfortunately, the opposite can also occur. Many of us wake up, roll out of bed to chug down our coffee and start our work day. Mid morning rolls around you already feel tired and that heavy, lethargic feeling starts to kick in. By the end of the day you go home exhausted, feeling stressed about doing it all over again tomorrow. This cycle also continues into lethargy, anxiety, depression which also feed off of one another. If you struggle with low energy, aches and pains, worry, etc. exercise is a great way to break this chain and start over. Worried you are out of shape? Don't be - simple activities like going for a walk will quickly build your strength and stamina and as that happens you'll feel compelled to take on even more physical activity. This will lead to improved mood, energy, and health overall.

In the Evenings...

If you work a job that is exhausting to you mentally or physically, consider a soothing exercise routine in the evenings. Do some yoga or stretching, even if its only for a few minutes, to allow your mind and body to relax. You'll find you sleep better with a daily dose or two of exercise and waking up well rested will help you continue the process and develop the good habits that will enrich your life far beyond the mere physical benefits.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Universal Laws: The Law of Vibration

Everything is made of energy, from thoughts to tangible objects, everything has an energy signature or vibration. You've likely heard the phrases "bad vibes" or "good vibes". If you really connect with someone it's often because that person has "good energy" or energy that is in sync with your own. On the other hand,have you ever been around a drama queen? You know the type ;) an overly negative person - someone who is angry and bitching about everything and blaming everyone for their problems while engaged in self-pity etc. How do you feel after spending time with that type of person? Do you feel drained and exhausted? That's because of the lower vibrations that "pull you down".

When working with the law of vibration it is important to learn to feel and tap into different vibrational energies so that you can align your own energy with what it is you want to manifest. Also, learning to feel these energy signatures can show you when what you want may not be in sync with what you believe.

Money is a great example here. Many people think about winning the lottery for example and they feel really good. They feel that life would be great if they had lots of money etc. However, in their daily life if they are struggling when they think about money the thoughts/vibes are likely more negative. Perhaps there is fear around money, worry over job loss, etc. Suddenly what you want is not in vibrational "sync" and so manifesting that item/idea etc doesn't happen.

If you feel negative emotions towards the object you desire (love, money, etc) you have to work to get to the bottom of the fears surrounding that in order to raise your thought vibrations high enough to line up with it and manifest it.

Feelings are your barometer to let you know if you are pursuing the right ideas - or if you are off course. Use your feelings as a tool to guide and redirect your thoughts.

We cannot manifest what we are not correctly aligned with energetically. This is one concept where the Law of Attraction movies/books often come up short.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

For today's post I want to explore the law of divine oneness. It is a complex law that takes time to fully integrate and understand on a deeper level. Many spiritual seekers work their whole lives to attain that sense of peace/clarity/unity and still find it fleeting. It is perhaps one of the trickiest laws to fully integrate due to our limited perceptions of reality in our daily lives.

There is one simple word that is a greeting which sums up the law of one nicely...

Namaste"I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides; I honor the place within you of love, of light, of truth, of peace; I honor the place within you, where, when you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us."

What this greeting points to is the principle of divine oneness. In our daily lives we are chronically "pulled apart". We focus on separation and what divides us, class, race, faith, intellect etc. Although most religious teachings focus on unity, the results over the course of history have too often lead to anything but.

It is easy to say "we are all connected", but it takes a great deal of spiritual devotion and practice to experience that knowledge at soul level. Once you have experienced a glimpse of it, it becomes difficult to carry anger and disdain for others, because you recognize them and yourself as interwoven into the same fabric of existence.

Meditation and stillness allows us to connect to the "universal mind" - the power, the creative force that we all come from, every thing that exists is a part of this source. While connected with this source there is no duality, there is a sense of "just me" but it is not an isolating feeling, nor is it a place of arrogance or ego, rather it is an all encompassing feeling that brings peace and a depth of understanding and acceptance that leads to deep inner peace and knowing that no matter what we perceive in the outside world, all is well and in perfect order. When you experience a glimmer of it you become like a child again - filled with awe and wonder and curiosity.

This often goes against the grain when people first read it, because the tendency is for the mind to shift to all of the perceived ill in the world war, starvation, disease etc. and say it is not true that all is well and all is as it should be. It takes a lot of conditioning to undo all of our perceptions that cause us to lock into toxic thinking. After all the moment in time we live in - even if we live a full century, is less than a blink of an eye in all that exists.... When things look negative we can get caught up in all that we perceive as wrong - and that leads to further separation and feelings of alienation. A personal hell of sorts that keeps us always struggling and resisting. What we resist persists - because we put so much energy behind that resistance that it keeps those things manifesting as well.

Universal laws are truly a balancing act. They require the true seeker to dig down to the deepest levels of collective consciousness in order to fully understand and implement them. There are no shortcuts, there is no "instant gratification". The laws are always there and always working whether we choose to use them consciously or not.

The next time you feel isolated and alone or angry at the state of the world, remember your life here is only a blink and do not put all your energy into resisting what you don't like. Instead take time to find your quiet center - that place in you where the creative force resides, and connect with it. Allow that presence into your life and let it empower you to expand your awareness. In doing so, life itself opens up to you and you find peace and fulfillment in a sometimes seemingly scary world. After this you can redirect your energy towards what you do want to see. Instead of being "anti-war" be "pro-peace" as what you focus on manifests :). People who are "anti" whatever tend to put all their energy into resisting what they don't want rather than manifesting what they do want and the circle continues...

You are connected intimately with the "all that is" the "alpha and omega" "God" whatever name you choose to give it. It works through you and you exist because of it, there is no separation. If God is the brain and existence (you, me, all of us) is the heart, truly one cannot live without the other and are a cohesive, connected and communicating unit. All one working body - a whole. "As above so below" you might say ;).

Overcome Duality

All is as it should be - even when you feel it shouldn't be that way or wish it was different, shift your perspective. All of human existence thus far is but a blink, less than a heartbeat in the all that is. All things have a purpose and we are all connected. Let that sink in, work to practice understanding it fully, not only at an intellectual level, but on a deeply spiritual one. It takes time and devotion, but once you experience it and truly feel it at the depths of your consciousness, your life with transform "miraculously".

Affirmations and Visualizations

Visualize the body of the all as you would a human body with all parts interconnected and working/communicating together. If you don't know fully how the human body works, read about it, visit a "body worlds" exhibit etc. It will give you a sense of awe and wonder at the process of life itself and how trillions of cells work together in harmony.

Did you know? There are more working parts in ONE cell of your body than there are human beings on the face of the earth? Keep a sense of perspective. Within you is greatness - vast universes all working together in unity to make your body and mind function as cohesive unit. You are a cell or working part within the whole as well.